Componentized embedded system information retrieval

Abstract

Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with collecting and providing data items that describe an element of an embedded system configured with a componentized operating system are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes a collection logic configured to collect the data item(s) from the embedded system that is configured with the componentized operating system. The collection logic may store the data item(s) in a data store. The example system may also include an access logic that provides access to the system data collected by the collection logic.

1 . A system, comprising: 
 a collection logic configured to collect a system data from an embedded system configured with a componentized operating system and to store the system data in a data store; and    an access logic configured to provide access to the system data stored in the data store.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , where the system data includes information concerning random access memory (RAM) associated with the embedded system, flash memory associated with the embedded system, an embedded system manufacturer, a product name for the embedded system, a serial number for the embedded system, read only memory (ROM) associated with the embedded system, the componentized operating system, and a hardware device included in the embedded system.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , where information concerning RAM associated with the embedded system includes information about one or more of, an amount of RAM associated with the embedded system, a type of RAM associated with the embedded system, and a location of RAM associated with the embedded system.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , where information concerning flash memory associated with the embedded system includes information about one or more of, an amount of flash memory associated with the embedded system, a type of flash memory associated with the embedded system, and a name for a logical drive implemented in the flash memory.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 2 , where information concerning an embedded system manufacturer includes information about one or more of, a manufacturer website address, a manufacturer name, and a manufacturer telephone number.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 2 , where information concerning ROM associated with the embedded system includes information about one or more of, a ROM version, a ROM release date, a ROM manufacture date, a ROM manufacturer, a ROM size, a ROM type, and a ROM location.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2 , where information concerning the componentized operating system includes information about one or more of, an operating system version, an operating system name, an operating system manufacturer, an operating system product identifier, an operating system image identifier, and an operating system date.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 2 , where information concerning a hardware device included in the embedded system includes information about one or more of, a hardware device name, a hardware device type, a hardware device address, a hardware device interrupt vector, and a hardware device power requirement.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , where the system data includes information concerning two or more of, random access memory (RAM) associated with the embedded system, flash memory associated with the embedded system, an embedded system manufacturer, a product name for the embedded system, a serial number for the embedded system, read only memory (ROM) associated with the embedded system, the componentized operating system, and a hardware device included in the embedded system.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 2 , where the collection logic is configured to collect the system data by accessing a system management BIOS (SMBIOS) associated with the embedded system, by accessing an application programming interface (API) associated with the componentized operating system, by examining a registry associated with the componentized operating system, by examining a file system associated with the componentized operating system, by examining a file associated with the componentized operating system, and by communicating with a hardware device associated with the embedded system.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , where the collection logic is configured to collect the system data by performing two or more of, making a call to a system management BIOS (SMBIOS) associated with the embedded system, by making a call to an application programming interface (API) associated with the componentized operating system, by examining a registry associated with the componentized operating system, by examining a file system associated with the componentized operating system, by examining a file associated with the componentized operating system, and by communicating with a device associated with the embedded system.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , where the collection logic stores the system data as an XML file in the data store.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , where the access logic provides a programmatic interface that facilitates accessing the system data stored in the data store.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , where the collection logic and the access logic are hardware components forming part of the embedded system.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , the componentized operating system being Microsoft Windows XP Embedded.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , where the access logic provides the system data to a support information window in a Microsoft system information control panel applet provided by Microsoft Windows XP Embedded.  
   
   
       17 . A system, comprising: 
 a collection logic configured to collect a system data from an embedded system configured with a componentized operating system derived from Microsoft Windows XP Embedded, where the system data includes information concerning random access memory (RAM) associated with the embedded system, flash memory associated with the embedded system, an embedded system manufacturer, a product name for the embedded system, a serial number for the embedded system, read only memory (ROM) associated with the embedded system, an operating system associated with the embedded system, and a hardware device included in the embedded system, where the collection logic is configured to store the system data in a data store;    where the collection logic is also configured to collect the system data by accessing a system management BIOS (SMBIOS) associated with the embedded system, by accessing an application programming interface (API) associated with the componentized operating system, by examining a registry associated with the componentized operating system, by examining a file system associated with the componentized operating system, and by communicating with a device associated with the embedded system; and    an access logic configured to provide the system data to a support information window in a Microsoft system information control panel applet provided by the componentized operating system.    
   
   
       18 . A computer-executable method performed in an embedded system, comprising: 
 acquiring a set of descriptive data from the embedded system, where the embedded system is configured with a componentized operating system, and where the descriptive data describes a hardware, software, or firmware component of the embedded system; and    making the set of descriptive data available to a user.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , where acquiring the set of descriptive data includes accessing a system management BIOS (SMBIOS) associated with the embedded system, accessing an application programming interface (API) associated with the componentized operating system, examining a registry associated with the componentized operating system, examining a file system associated with the componentized operating system, and communicating with a device included in the embedded system.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , where acquiring the set of descriptive data includes performing two or more of, accessing a system management BIOS (SMBIOS) associated with the embedded system, accessing an application programming interface (API) associated with the componentized operating system, examining a registry associated with the componentized operating system, examining a file system associated with the componentized operating system, and communicating with a device included in the embedded system.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , where the set of descriptive data includes information concerning random access memory (RAM) associated with the embedded system, flash memory associated with the embedded system, an embedded system manufacturer, a product name for the embedded system, a serial number for the embedded system, read only memory (ROM) associated with the embedded system, an operating system associated with the embedded system, and a hardware device included in the embedded system.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , where making the set of descriptive data available to a user includes storing the set of descriptive data in a data store as an extensible markup language (XML) file.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , where making the set of descriptive data available to a user includes providing the set of descriptive data to a viewing component of the componentized operating system.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , where the viewing component comprises a support information window in a Microsoft system information control panel applet in a componentized operating system derived from Microsoft Windows XP Embedded.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18 , where making the set of descriptive data available to a user includes providing a programmatic interface that facilitates programmatically acquiring the set of descriptive data from the data store.  
   
   
       26 . A computer-readable medium storing processor executable instructions operable to perform a method in an embedded system configured with a componentized operating system, the method comprising: 
 acquiring a set of descriptive data from the embedded system by accessing a system management BIOS (SMBIOS) associated with the embedded system, accessing an application programming interface (API) associated with the componentized operating system, examining a registry associated with the componentized operating system, examining a file system associated with the componentized operating system, and communicating with a device included in the embedded system, where the set of descriptive data includes information concerning random access memory (RAM) associated with the embedded system, flash memory associated with the embedded system, an embedded system manufacturer, a product name for the embedded system, a serial number for the embedded system, read only memory (ROM) associated with the embedded system, an operating system associated with the embedded system, and a hardware device included in the embedded system; and    making the set of descriptive data available to a user by one or more of, providing the set of descriptive data to a viewing component of the componentized operating system, providing a programmatic interface that facilitates acquiring the set of descriptive data from a data store, and storing the set of descriptive data in an XML file.    
   
   
       27 . A method for producing a single point of contact for a user to access system information describing elements of an embedded system configured with a componentized operating system, the method comprising: 
 selectively writing an embedded system manufacturer data to a user viewable location;    retrieving a product name, a serial number, a ROM version, a ROM data, and a RAM data for the embedded system via an SMBIOS associated with the embedded system;    selectively writing the product name, serial number, ROM version, ROM data, and RAM data to the user viewable location;    acquiring an operating system version data and a product identifier data via an application programming interface (API) associated with the componentized operating system;    selectively writing the operating system version data and the product identifier data to the user viewable location;    accessing a hardware device included in the embedded system to acquire a hardware device data;    selectively writing the hardware device data to the user viewable location;    accessing a registry associated with the componentized operating system to acquire a software data; and    selectively writing the software data to the user viewable location.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , where the user viewable location is a file accessible by a viewing logic.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , where the hardware device data includes a media access control (MAC) address and an Internet Protocol (IP) address.  
   
   
       30 . A computer-readable medium storing processor executable instructions operable to perform a method for producing a single point of contact for a user to access system information describing elements of an embedded system configured with a componentized operating system, the method comprising: 
 selectively writing an embedded system manufacturer data to a user viewable location;    retrieving a product name, a serial number, a ROM version, a ROM data, and a RAM data for the embedded system via an SMBIOS associated with the embedded system;    selectively writing the product name, serial number, ROM version, ROM data, and RAM data to the user viewable location;    acquiring an operating system version data and a product identifier data via an application programming interface (API) associated with the componentized operating system;    selectively writing the operating system version data and the product identifier data to the user viewable location;    accessing a hardware device included in the embedded system to acquire a hardware device data;    selectively writing the hardware device data to the user viewable location;    accessing a registry associated with the componentized operating system to acquire a software data; and    selectively writing the software data to the user viewable location.    
   
   
       31 . A system, comprising: 
 means for acquiring a hardware data from an embedded system configured with a componentized operating system, where the hardware data describes a hardware component of the embedded system;    means for acquiring a firmware data from the embedded system, where the firmware data describes a firmware component of the embedded system;    means for acquiring a software data from the embedded system, where the software data describes a software component of the embedded system; and    means for providing the hardware data, the firmware data, and the software data to a single location accessible by a user.    
   
   
       32 . In a computer system having a graphical user interface comprising a display and a selection device, a method of providing and selecting from a set of data entries on the display, the method comprising: 
 retrieving a set of data entries, where a data entry represents an operation associated with collecting and displaying a data item that describes an element of an embedded system configured with a componentized operating system;    displaying the set of data entries on the display;    receiving a data entry selection signal indicative of the selection device selecting a selected data entry; and    in response to the data entry selection signal, initiating an operation associated with the selected data entry.    
   
   
       33 . A set of application programming interfaces embodied on a computer-readable medium for execution by a computer component in conjunction with collecting and providing a system data that describes a component of an embedded system configured with a componentized operating system, comprising: 
 a first interface for communicating a first identifier that identifies a system data to collect; and    a second interface for communicating a second identifier that identifies a system data to provide.